Bigger role urged for women farmers

WOMEN farmers should have a bigger part in shaping the future of rural areas, it was claimed yesterday.

Karen Serres, president of the women’s committee in COPA, the umbrella body for farmer organisations in the EU, said women farmers know the problems and opportunities of rural areas inside out.

“Yet, so far their voice is not being heard. We must change this,” she said in a statement marking World Rural Women’s Day tomorrow. Ms Serres said without the work of women, food production in Europe would grind to a halt.